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Reviews For: West Mountain Radio RIGrunner 4012

Category: DC Power Supply Distribution

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Review Summary For : West Mountain Radio RIGrunner 4012
Reviews: 35MSRP: 99.95
Description:
A RIGrunner is the most convenient and safest way to connect all of your 12 volt equipment to a power source. It is a 13.8 VDC power panel that uses the excellent Anderson PowerPole connectors. Standardize all of your 12 VDC connections using the amateur radio ARES & RACES PowerPole system.

120 VAC appliances have the same plugs and sockets. Why shouldn't 12 VDC connectors be standard?
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.westmountainradio.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00354.5
KF6KXG Rating: 2021-03-03
Well made with great support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I just bought my second 4012. After a dozen years or so my first one wasn't triggering at the correct over voltage. Evidently they modified the unit since I bought it with improved newer models. Anyway tech support was excellent and they told me where to solder a new resistor in and now it is perfect. My second 4012 works great and I use one on my ham desk and one on my workbench. The difference between West Mountain and the other makers of these is quality and great tech support (if and when needed). It really neatens up the DC wiring.
VE7REN Rating: 2020-03-22
excellent problem solver Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
bought one to add more items to my astrom 50 amp supply. it power all my meters,radios,etc. I solder all my connectors and have them on everything radio related. this allows me to have a solid connection and clean up all the wiring,along with auditable alarm and fusing for all my items. ide buy again. this is the way of the future....don't try and fit all your powercords on the power supply lugs!!
WT3O Rating: 2012-09-19
Works Great!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased a West Mountain Radio RigRunner 4010S back in 2005 or so. Actually, I purchased the 4008, but the store was out of them so they sold me a 4010S for the same price. Over the years my 12V devices grew, so I added a 4012 to make sure I had more room to grow.

The 4012 is great to add necessary 12V outlets. I have my 4012 and my 4010 mounted under my ham desk (I wanted to keep the desk clutter free). From my experience, the PowerPole connectors are fine to mount upside down. I haven't had one fall apart or come out yet!

If you are debating between the 4010 and the 4012 think about long term. I never use the switch on the 4010S because I turn the power supply off when I'm done in the shack. I'd rather have the two extra outlets on the 4012 than the master switch on the 4010S.
WA7NDD Rating: 2012-03-11
Should have done it long ago! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The West Mountain 4012 replaced 4 wall warts and three AC plugs. Cleaned up the desk and made a nice installation. I feed it with two AGM 150 amp batteries connected to a battery back up module connected to my Astron power supply, and the 4012 as the load. Will add solar this summer. I installed a Watts-UP meter at the input of the 4012 and by turning off the Astron I can see the battery condition. Running a TS 590S for HF, 2 meters, and other stuff on the 4012. I have seven connections on the 4012, LED's on it tell the story of over or under voltage. Happy with the purchase.
Jim, WA7NDD
WD6S Rating: 2009-03-22
Good choice for solar power distribution Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I installed a solar power system for the shack and chose the 4012 cause it has two separate 40W buses, and each connection point is individually fused. So far it has stood up well. My small problems are that the blade-type fuses are sometimes difficult to seat properly, and the Power pole connectors do not always engage electrically or mechanically, though I suspect this more a power pole issue or my inexperience in attaching the connectors. Even with 6 radios there are plenty more connectors available.

It makes my day to come into the shack and see the green LED glowing to indicate Normal voltage. It is a good product for this application and appears to be well built. I do note that the price has gone up about $25 since the initial entry for this product- it is now about $125.
K5NT Rating: 2008-10-10
Excellent for Shack Use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just converted my home station over to battery power using the 4012 to connect everything. A DEKA 97 amp hour gel is connected to the 4012, as are a 5 amp Smart Charger from A-A Engineering, a Ten-Tec OMNI Vi+, and a Yaesu FT-8800. The charger provides the first 5 amps of current, then the battery kicks in. The Anderson Powerpoles were easy to connect using the crimper sold by West Mountain, and all connections are tight and secure. West Mountain provides instructions for converting the over-voltage alarm in the 4012 into an under-voltage alarm where a battery is the power source, and I will make this change.
PA0ERC Rating: 2008-09-04
You need this too Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Using the rigrunner was an eyeopener for me. No more problems connecting and disconnecting, fast and reliable. Do not understand complaints about PP not locking at all. In my shack there is no mechanical stress on the wiring. if there is, even a locking connector system will fail in the end.

Bottom line: works fb, looks nice, reliable and you need one too....

WU1T Rating: 2006-01-26
Tame the DC cable. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I upgraded from a 4005 to a 4012 recently. I am very happy with it. Up until the time I bought my Rigrunners, I was dealing with solder or crimp on spades and directly connecting my DC cables to the lugs on my supplies. Going from that to the Rigrunner is like the caveman discovering fire. Huge improvement in the way things are done. This product, and Anderson Powerpoles, actually makes dealing with your power supply and DC cables easy and... FUN. Maybe I just need to get out of the house more.
W9AC Rating: 2005-08-10
Needs slight re-design Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using the 4012 for the past two years and overall, I've been satisfied with it for low-current devices. However, despite the fact that Anderson claims their connectors are rated for 20+ DC amps, the reality is that there can be substantial voltage drop across their connectors when running high-current equipment like a 20-amp, 100 watt HF transceiver. Moreover, the Anderson Powerpole connectors do not lock and are prone to accidental disconnects. For maximum reliability, the RIGrunner should be positioned such that zero tension occurs on the power cables.

K3MEB Rating: 2005-04-05
Great Product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great Product! This has allowed me to really clean up the wiring in the shack. Just one warning.. Buy a model with more connections than you expect to use. Believe me, you end up hooking up everything to this. Rigs, acccessories, replacing 12v wall warts, I even hooked up a cigarette lighter jack just in case I need to plug in a cell phone charger or something. My only complaint isnt about this product, its just that I'd like the powerpoles to be locking. Overall, its a great product, and well made.